Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya

           Gender disparities still persist in rural areas and among disadvantage communities looking at enrolment as well as retention trades there remain significant gaps at the elementary level as well as in upper primary level. To ensure an equal opportunity and to provide a barrier free environment for girls the Govt. of India has introduced a Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya  scheme for setting up residential schools with all facilities at elementary level for girls belonging predominantly to and schedule tribe, SC, OBC, and Minority community.

          In the year 2010-11 total 203 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas are functional in the state.

Quality Improvement in KGBV

• Special emphasis was given to the girls who are with low achievement level. Special classes and bridge classes has been organized for them. It was followed by the regular evaluation as monthly, quarterly and yearly. Girls are closely monitored by the teachers through the evaluation.

• Girls who appeared in final secondary examination were attended special coaching classes. Support taken from retired local teachers and qualified part time teachers in the locality.

• Subject specific training on math and science subject being provided to the concern teachers by the support of UNICEF. Supporting material also provided to the teacher. Objective was to make conducive environment for teaching in the classroom.

• Training also provided on customized teachers training package by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on English, Hindi, Math Social Science and Science subject. At the State level total 25 teachers has been trained in which five teachers of each subject from each Commissionary.

• Other than academic, health and hygiene is the prime focus of KGBV. Health card maintained of each girl.   Health check up is the regular activity in school. Adolescent health awareness inputs are being provided by the external agency CEDPA by the support of state government.

• Physical trainers are in place with the objective to promote sports activities.

• To enhance confidence level among girls and to provide a platform to express them, state level meet was organized. Girls who passed in Secondary examination are being awarded in this meet. Girls were also taken to some places in nearby as exposure visit. They participated in flag hosting ceremony in Independence Day.

• School uniform provided to girls.

• Monitoring of KGBVs is the regular activity. Proper function and to become aware in practical problems in function of school Monitoring will be done at each level ie block, district, state by concerning officers. School management, academic support, residential facility, co-curricular activities are the main focus area during the monitoring.

Activities and Strategies undertaken

Enrollment of girls   

          In the academic year 2010-11 new girls enrolled in class VI. Priority given to never enrolled and dropout girls of disadvantaged society. Reservation on enrollment followed on the basis of population composition of concern block.

Bridging of girls

          Most of the girls of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Schools are from rural areas where literacy rate is very poor and the parents of such girls don't have any educational background or very low educational status. There achievement level is very low when they joined school. Special emphasis was given to them by organizing bridge classes to fulfill their learning gap so that they can acquire their age specific competencies (class VI to VIII). 

Training to the teachers

          Subject specific training on math and science subject being provided to the concern teachers by the support of UNICEF. Supporting material also provided to the teacher. Objective was to make conducive environment for teaching in the classroom. Training also provided on customized teachers training package by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on English, Hindi, Math Social Science and Science subject. At the State level total 25 teachers has been trained in which five teachers of each subject from each Commissionary.

Special coaching class

          Special coaching classes were conducted for the girls appeared in secondary examination.  All supportive material what they required provided to them. Arrangement also has been made for part time teachers.

Award to the girls passed in secondary examination

          Award ceremony organized for the girls appeared in the final secondary examination. Girls brought Ist, IInd and IIIrd position at state and at commissionary level were awarded at State level. The idea was to encourage the girls, make them feel special and to develop the feeling of competition among themselves.

Monitoring and evaluation

          Regular monitoring and evaluation was the vital activity. Monitoring at each level ie block/district/state has been done by the different concern officers. School management, academic support, residential facility, were the main focus area during the monitoring. Internal evaluation of girls made monthly, quarterly and half yearly. Girls were closely monitored through evaluation. Low achievement level girls identified through evaluation were given special focus in academic part.

Orientation and regular meeting of SMC

School management committee has to play major role in the function of school. Keeping this view orientation provided to school management committee at block and district level and followed by the regular monthly meeting.

To ensure the quality aspect in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalays, quality inputs like training of teachers, bridge course to acquire the age specific competency level of newly enrolled girls, special coaching classes for girls, orientation programs, state level meet were the prime focus.